Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-11-03
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Oct. 16. 1887.

Oct 10. 1887
EDITOR CLARION A short distance west
ward we see the Governors house and the
barracks of the n. w. Mounted Police, n
body ofmen ofwhom Canada is justly proud.
This organization is composed of picked
young men, thoroughly drilled, and governed
| by the strictcst military discipline. They
are here to watch the indians, keep the peace
and see that no liquors are smugglee into or
through the territory. BY their firm and
consileratc rule, they won the respect of the
Indians long before the railroad was pu,
through.
We have now nearly reached the end of
the continuous settlement, and soon will be
| in her the home of the real pioneer, in the
strictcst use of the word Everybody rushcs
to the window, and everybody else to the
| platform.
We have long strained our eyes in looking
for buffalo, the runs Of which we have scen
for miles, and at last are rewarded with thcI
sight of something more than prairie dog
or coyotc--a real live antelope, and three OF
them, but no buffalo.
After IA long run we reach Medicine Hat,
1000 miles from Lake Superior. This is a.
reservation for fhe Crowtoot Indians. We
travel through hill, valley and plain in quick
succession and are soon in the land of the
once dreaded Black Foot tribes
As we speed on we are oil alive for the
first view of the Rocky Mountain. At last
we sec them yet more than hundred miles
away, a glorious line Of snow capped peaks,
extending along the western horizon as far
as the eve can reach in either direction.
low black line Of various widths against the
hills, back of which rise peak after peak all
snow capped and glistcnng like burnlshed
silver in the sunlight
While we are wandering over the immcn-
sity of this great work OF nature, the tram
comes to a stand still, and we find ourscf on
beautiful hill grit plateau in the center of
which stands the new city of Calgary, at
the base of the moutaius, 2,2G2 miles from
Montreal and BAG feet above the ocean.
Westward again, the railway follows the
Bon river pass for one hundred and fifty
miles. At every turn of, the valley, which
is an alienation of PERCEPTIONS gorscs and
wide parks, Il new picture presents itself.
Through the passes we catch glimpses OF
glaciers, and other strange sights, and now
and then of wild goats and noun tain sheep
grazing up near the snow-linc.
In three hours we are at small station
which we are told is the summit of the Cas-
cade range, but this is so only in an engineer
ing sense for bcoynd us is a peak that lifts
! its head still five thousand feet above the
track Two little streams here find their
way down the hills in opposite directions,
the one to lose itself in the Hudson Bay, and
the other into the Columbia River.
Passing three emerald lakes, deep set in
the mountains, we follow the west bound
stream through rock ribbed canon where
the waters are dashed to foam in incessant
leaps and whirls. This Is the famous Kicking
Horse pass. For wild and wicrd scenery
this pass can hardly be excellcd. We cross
the steam nine times III eleven miles, and it
is never out of sight for even minute, in
twenty miles,
Mount Stephen the highest to be seen from
The route stands little off from the track to
the left 1t rises to a height of more than
eight thousand feet, aud holds on one of its
shoulders, almost directly over u.s., glacier
whose shining green ice is 800 feet thick,
from the base of which pours hundreds Of
of small streams that pitch and toss from
craig to craig, in clear stream, or blind
ing spray.
Now we have miles and miles Of curves
trestles, and tunnels In fact it seems that
we are shut off from daylight more than half
the time until finally we come out against
the mountain side and haye a full view ofthe
Selklrk range and the Columbia river.
Crossing the Columbia we commence the as.
cent of this range, and for twenty miles
climb from hill to hill until we find oursclt
among curiously colored peaks on every side.
At the summit 500 feet above tidewatcr
is a natural resting place. A level bench as
it were on the very top of hill, giving us
a grand view of all the peaks, in the deadly
embrace of glaciers. 1t seems strange under
this summers sky to see this battle going on
between rocks and ice-a battle begun ages
ago, and 10 continue for ages to come.
Yours,
i w. +. l.. .